ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of knee joint stability training in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis. MethodsSixty-one patients with knee osteoarthritis treated between April 2014 and April 2015 were randomly divided into 2 groups:rehabilitation group (n=30) and control group (n=31).Patients in the rehabilitation group received knee joint stability training (30-40 minutes once, once every day); the control group received diclofenac sodium orally at 75 mg/d (25 mg per time, 3 times every day).The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis index (WOMAC) and short-form health survey (SF-36) were used before and after treatment.Patients' and physicians' assessment of the total efficacy rate was also analyzed. ResultsAfter 5 weeks of treatment, the total efficacy rate assessed by the patients for the rehabilitation group and the control group was respectively 93.33% and 87.10%, and those two numbers assessed by physicians were respectively 86.67% and 80.65%;the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).Significant improvement was observed in the results of WOMAC and SF-36 in both two groups (P < 0.05).There was no significant difference in the clinical efficacy between the two groups (P > 0.05).No incidence of related adverse events occurred in the rehabilitation group, while the incidence of adverse events was 16.13% in the control group (P < 0.05). ConclusionThe knee joint stability training is as effective as diclofenac sodium in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis, but the joint stability training is better tolerated than the latter.